Santa Clarita man targeted in hate crime

An African-American man was targeted by vandals who set his car afire and painted racial slurs on his home, said Santa Clarita sheriff's deputies who classified the attack as a hate crime.

Anthony Bedgood, 31, was awakened by his roommate about 1 a.m. Saturday and went outside to find his 2009 Scion TC on fire in the driveway of his home in the 20700 block of Satinwood Drive.

"Right at that moment, you definitely fear for your safety," said Bedgood, a salesman who works in Northridge. "You're watching your car explode in front of your eyes and wondering, `Is somebody out there looking for me?"'

As firefighters were putting out the flames that had engulfed the car, Bedgood saw that all the tires on his roommate's 2005 GMC Yukon had been slashed. Pentagrams had been spray-painted in red on the Yukon's hood and a bodyshop later found swastikas carved into the SUV, which was damaged by the fire, Bedgood said.

A pentagram was also painted on the garage and accompanied a racial slur that demanded he and his roommates move.

"I can't think of anybody who would even do this," Bedgood said. "Being African-American, you always get little things, schoolyard stuff, ignorant comments here and there. But nothing of this magnitude."

Sheriff's Sgt. Darren Harris said authorities had no suspects in the attack, which they had classified as a hate crime.

Anyone with more information was asked to call Detective Larry Lewis at 323-881-7500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or text the letters "TIPLA" plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).